TPi September 2014

AGS and Installation-Ready technology The Advance Groove System (AGS) and Installation-Ready technology are among the latest innovations in mechanical grooved piping systems introduced by Victaulic.

Conclusions In summary, grooved piping systems can offer significant advantages over their flanged equivalents because of their speed of installation, maintainability and alignment ease. These characteristics, coupled with additional benefits such as design versatility, safety and reduced total installed costs, are leading many installers, engineers and owners to choose grooved mechanical systems instead of flanges. The patented Victaulic Installation-Ready technology line makes mechanical pipe joining more efficient. Couplings are delivered to the job site ready to install, without the requirement to first disassemble. It is claimed that Installation-Ready couplings can be installed up to ten times faster than welding, six times faster than flanging, and twice as fast as standard mechanical grooved couplings. Victaulic states that the AGS design results in a 40 per cent increase in end load carrying capabilities compared to previous joining methods.

AGS was developed by Victaulic for medium- to large- diameter pipes between 350 and 1,525mm (14" to 60"), and is designed to offer enhanced strength and reliability through a more robust coupling housing and a patented wedge-shaped roll groove that is deeper and wider, providing increased coupling-to-pipe engagement and higher pressure ratings.

Over time or due to overextension, these products can wear out or fail, requiring replacement. Furthermore, the bolts and nuts of a flanged union absorb system forces, and over time can relax due to surges, system working pressure, vibration, and expansion and contraction. When the bolts lose tension, the gasket can ‘slip’, which can result in a leak. Flange gaskets can take on compression over time, also resulting in leakage. To prevent or stop leaks, routine bolt and nut tightening is required. The ability of grooved couplings to accommodate system vibration reduces the risk of joint issues. Grooved systems can accommodate vibration without the need for speciality products that require periodic repair or replacement. The resilient elastomeric gasket contained within both flexible and rigid couplings aids in dampening noise and vibration. Acoustical consulting firm SSA Acoustics, in Seattle, Washington, USA, undertook a field measurement that showed three Victaulic couplings, placed in series in a pipe section, have a comparable performance to twin-sphere neoprene connectors, and a superior performance to braided metal hoses. Victaulic couplings dampened the overall vibration amplitude by 80 to 90 per cent. Each successive joint creates a further reduction in vibration. Independent test laboratory Nutech Testing Corporation/ SE Laboratories used Victaulic mechanical couplings in its testing, and concluded that, for any given pipe diameter, less vibration is transmitted with each additional Victaulic coupling, regardless of whether Victaulic flexible or rigid couplings are used. The gasket absorbs the vibrations, not the bolts and nuts. Over the life of the system, the nuts and bolts do not require regular retightening and will not slip or relax, thus maintaining a leak-tight seal. The gasket of a grooved coupling has a C-shaped cross section seal that is very durable and can handle significant compressive and cyclical loading. A system can be pressurised and depressurised repeatedly without fatiguing the rubber. Gaskets from Victaulic are rated for life-of-the-system service.

About the author Andy Carter is product engineer at Victaulic, and is an affiliate member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. He has a degree in mechanical and electrical engineering and 23 years’ experience of providing technical support for a range of products.

About Victaulic Victaulic is a producer of grooved mechanical couplings and pipe-joining systems. Used in demanding markets, Victaulic’s piping technologies and services allow people to work faster while increasing safety, ensuring reliability and maximising efficiency. The company has 15 major manufacturing facilities, 28 branches worldwide, and over 3,600 employees who speak 43 languages across the globe. With more than 900 active global patents, Victaulic solutions are at work in 115 countries across diverse business lines including oil and gas, chemical, mining, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, military and marine, as well as commercial building and fire protection.

Victaulic – USA www.victaulic.com

65

www.read-tpi.com

September 2014 Tube ProducTS InTernaTIonal